Pack N Play Sheet

The Little Man has graduated from bassinet to Pack N Play, actually he's in the Mini Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper.  It was a hand-me-down from a friend - THANKS to Katherine's cousin : )  I already have a sheets for crib, bassinet and Pack N Play, unfortunately, none fits the Mini.  Here's a quick turtorial on how make one of your own.

1. Take measurements of your mattress and add 6.  My mini measures 31 x 18 = 37 x 24.

2. Cut your fabric based on the calculation above.

Seat Belt Covers

My daughter complains about her seat belt rubbing against her chest and neck.  We usually just pull her shirt up or turn her collar up to protect her skin.  I finally had an ah ha moment and made her a set of seat belt covers.  This was a quickie accomplished over lunch.

These are for my daughter

What you'll need:

2pcs of each - 5 1/2 x 4 flannel (or any other fabric you like), batting, double sided quilted fabric (you can double up on the batting if you want to use another fabric). 

6 in of velcro

Thread

Lay the flannel wrong side down, then quilted fabric, and batting.  Sew around (1/4 in seam) leaving a 2 inch open to turn inside out.  Clip corners and turn inside out. Sew 2 inch opening shut.  Attach velcro and you're done! 

I made made another set for my son using 5 1/2 x 5 measurements instead. 

***Update*** - For adult sized, use 7.5 x 7.5 squares.

Bed Skirt Part2

It's coming along.  I've completed attaching the pieces together for each panel - yellow & white pique with brown grosgrain ribbon.  I've hemmed all but 3 panels.  Just need to cut the deck piece - the portion that sits underneath the mattress and attach the panels.  I'll have it done this weekend and possibly start working on the matching pillow.  Pics to follow soon!

Supplies:
1 - 29 x 59 muslin for deck
2 - 8 x 16 1/2 side inserts
2 - 30 x 16 1/2 end panels (for 2 toned cut 30 x 11 1/2 for top and 30 x 6 for bottom tone)
4 - 29 x 16 1/2 side panels (for 2 toned cut 29 x 11 1/2 for top and 29 x 6 for bottom tone)
Optional 5 1/2 yds of 2 inch ribbon

Instructions:
For 2 toned:  Attach the 2 different fabric along the 30" or 29" length side with 1/2" seam.  Press seam open.
1.  Hem the sides and bottoms of each side insert and panel by pressing 1/2" and then 1/2" again.  Stitch on the edge of pressed hem.
2. Attach the tops of the insert and panels to the deck.  Attach the side on the 30" of the deck with 1/2" seam.  Align the 29" panels to the corners of each front and back side and attach with 1/2" seam.  Center the insert panels between the 2 front and back side panels and attache with 1/2" seam.

Baby Crib Bumper

In search of baby boy bedding, I decided to make my own. I really didn't like anything at the retail stores. What's being mass produced is just to kiddie for me. Plus they want a fortune for poor quality. The ones I do like at boutique stores, I can't justify paying $300+. Then I cam to realization that in Amy Butler's Little Stitches, there's a pattern for a modern crib set.

I spent a couple days scouring the Internet for other patterns to for ideas. Then after a couple trips to the fabric store, Joann's and M&L, I had a better idea of what I wanted to do. With the help of my sister, we picked out a nice print pattern for the interior and the exterior multi-tone cotton pique. The pique really adds to the luxurious feel to the end result. I added a grosgrain brown ribbon and piping to finish it off.

Although the pattern is based on Amy Butler's, I basically used her pattern as a guide and made up the rest on my own. Initially, there was no intention to make the ties out of the same interior fabric, but I didn't buy enough ribbon to go all the way around. I was too anxious to finish the project over the weekend and didn't want to have to go back to the store to pick up the shortage. In the end, I think it looks better this way.

Basically my pattern consists of:
2 - 55 x 11 3/4 panels for the interior front & back
2 - 27 1/2 x 11 3/4 panels for the interior sides
2 - 2 1/2 packets of piping
16 - 2 x 22 strips for ties
2 - 2 x 4 strips for loops to hold together
2 - 55 x 8 yellow pique for front & back
2 - 55 x 3 3/4 white pique for front & back
2 - 27 1/2 x 8 yellow pique for sides
2 - 27 1/2 x 8 white pique for sides
4 yards of brown grosgrain ribbon - I was short and didn't add ribbon to the back panel. I'd probably need 5.5 - 6 yrds to include it.
1 package of baby bumper pads from Nu Foam - I ordered it online at Joann's.

1. Sew all interior panels together. Long, short, long, short with 1/2 seam. Press seams open
2. Sew yellow and white pique together with 1/2 seam. Press seams open
3. Attach ribbon onto each panel centered on the exterior seam where the 2 tones meet.
4. Attach exterior panels together, long short, long, short with 1/2 seam, press seams open - make sure you align the ribbon at the seam.
5. Iron and fold strips into bias and stitch along the opening. Or use ribbon or pre-made bias tape instead for ties.
6. Pin interior and exterior panels together - right sides facing each other. Pin pipping in between the 2 with piping cord inside the right sides. Pin ties at seams inside the panels and at 27 1/2 inches on the long panels. My crib has a decorative panel in the middle, so I measured to the spindle in the middle next to it. Pin loop on to one side panel top & bottom.
7. Sew the top, 1 side and bottom. Top along the piping - use the zipper foot, side (loop side) and bottom with 1 inch seam.
8. Attach ties on the open side panel and stitch top and bottom leaving 5 inch opening.
9. Turn inside out - your bumper is almost done.
10. Stuff and position panels of foam and you're done. I left the opening as is because I want to be able to take out the foam and wash the cover. You can choose to blind hand stitch it close.